U.S.: Twitter Blocks RT, Sputnik Advertising

Twitter announced online through its Public Policy handle on Oct. 26 that it has made the policy decision to halt advertising by RT and Sputnik, effective immediately. The company based its decision on the U.S. intelligence community's conclusion that RT and Sputnik implemented state-sponsored efforts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. RT and Sputnik are permitted to remain as users on the platform, in accordance with Twitter rules. Twitter will donate the $1.9 million dollars estimated to have been earned from RT global advertising since 2011 to support external research into the use of Twitter in civic engagement and elections and, more specifically, the use of malicious automation and misinformation.